How to Stop File Explorer Sorting by Week and Month

Anonymous
2019-07-26T21:53:02+00:00

After the recent update Windows file explorer is now grouping items by day, week and month. I do not want this. I want the old way back please. How do I get rid of this new sorting? I hope this is not going to be like what happened to media folders where they now display metadata columns instead of name, date, size, type and even if you change them the next time you open the folder it has reverted back to metadata columns.

Update: I worked out that Group By must be set to none. How do I make this default so it doesn't revert back? I'd also like to stop my media folders reverting back to the old way too so they show name, date, size, type instead of Artist, Album, Title etc

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2019-09-05T03:31:56+00:00

There is no bug.  Someone at Microsoft just managed to apply their default folder setting to everyone that installs the update.

To turn off file grouping feature:

  1. Open a folder that is Grouping by/sorting using week and month.
  2. Right Click in the folder
  3. Select 'Group by'
  4. Select '(None)'

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-02-04T00:46:14+00:00

    ...

    Do you get points for just throwing useless replies around? Are you out trying to earn achievements or something?

    Check the attiude, B. Apply to folders is what's needed to override the new FolderType for Downloads. But it doesn't take when saved views are maxed out. They have to be deleted and then Apply to folders will work as expected. If you need help with that, ask politely.

    Keith

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-02-27T13:44:28+00:00

    Open file explorer downloads folder.

    Go to the "View" tab.

    In the "current section" select the "Group by" dropdown.

    Select none.

    Job done.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-03-01T22:50:29+00:00

    Once again, MicroSoft -- in their "wisdom" -- has the concept of "default turned inside-out.  After my automatic Window upgrade last night, many of my folders are now grouped.  I know how to un-group them, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO!  I get the idea that "grouping" should be an option, but the default should be un-grouped.  This isn't the first time they have turned on a feature that I never asked for.  Listen, MicroSoft:  Leave my options alone!  When you introduce a feature, introduce it!  But don't turn it on for users that never asked for it, just to force them to turn it off!  Sheesh.  They keep doing things like this.  Why don't you fix things like the stupid title bars that are now on Windows that are so multi-colored and so cluttered with things that I don't want like tabs and search boxes and gray-on-white buttons that I can't see and I never know which window has focus.  Fix THAT, okay?  (Sorry... I'll get off my soapbox.)

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-03-09T13:27:07+00:00

    This solution works.

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